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One of the quickest things you can do in the countryside is make a walking stick, a simple item that can be treasured and used for years to come. There’s no point finding a rotten old branch that will snap as soon as it’s used as a pole to vault across a puddle or stream. No, you need to be making walking sticks that can withstand the rigours of a life outdoors. If you’re lucky enough to live in the countryside a short distance from some woods or a hedgerow then it’ll be easy to find the materials you need. Alternatively, there are resources online that can provide suitable natural materials. Failing that, a perfect walking stick, if cut to size, can be made from a broom handle bought from any hardware store. OK, you won’t be finding the raw materials yourself, but you can still adapt, adjust and alter as desired.

When you and your child spend time preparing this stick, they will care. They’ll become attached to it, and, in turn, they’ll want to use it. They’ll start asking to go out for a walk with their stick. Hopefully, they’ll remind you to bring it to the school pick-up so that after school they have their adventure equipment ready. Making the stick is an adventure in itself.

What you need

 A stick that’s taller than your child

 A saw/pair of secateurs

 A penknife

What to do

1 It’s important to get permission from whoever’s land your stick is growing on.

2 Keep your eyes peeled for long, straight poles growing up from the ground.

3 Hazel is the best species of tree to look for, but ash, blackthorn and holly are all suitable too.

4 Coppicing is a method of woodland management employed by woodsmen who require long, straight poles. When tree stems attain a certain diameter – an inch or two – they are cut at ground level and used for hedging or charcoal production. The tree stump then sprouts again, sending up new, straight poles. Woodsmen can choose the thickness of the pole, depending on the requirements they have, leaving some to grow for many years while others can be cut after just a few.

5 Hazel is the most commonly coppiced tree. Coppicing is a sustainable method of producing wood. Hazel can easily be found in woodland or hedges, and usually provides a range of diameters to fit any size of hand. Hazel is easily cut and carved, and is very flexible, making it ideal for walking sticks.

6 Depending on the age of your child, adjust the size of stick you choose. Thinner lengths for younger children will be lighter and more easily handled; slightly thicker, more robust sticks will be better for older children, who will be more likely to put their weight on the wood.

7 Once you’ve found the perfect-sized piece of wood carefully cut the pole from the base. The leaves and any twigs growing off can be removed to create a beautifully smooth, straight stick.

Cutting their own walking stick can be a wonderful lesson for your child. Give them the saw and show them trust, but it’s vital that you show them how to use any tools safely. If they are involved in every aspect of this process they’ll appreciate, learn and remember so much more. When the final draw of the saw cuts through the stick it’s an incredibly satisfying achievement for a young child and one that should be celebrated.

Now you have your walking stick – poking stick, wizard’s staff, pole-vault pole or whatever else it is you’ve decided to use it for – you can head out into the world with a tool that you have sourced, made into something useful and worked on together.

Ladybird walking stick

You now have a simple walking stick that your child is already hopefully pleased with. Walking has suddenly become easier and more enjoyable. Now it’s time to create something really fun using a number of different skills.

What you need

 A cut walking stick

 A penknife

 Acrylic paints (red and black)

What to do

1 With a penknife, start carving the top of the walking stick into the shape of a ball.

2 Depending on the type of wood you’ve found, the shaving of the end should be fairly easy with a sharp penknife. Again, fresh hazel is ideal.

3 This is the perfect activity for you to teach your child safe-knife technique (see ‘Use a penknife’, see here). You’re not making anything complicated, so the cutting of the wood can be done all in the same direction, making this an ideal exercise with a knife.

4 Once you have a smooth, rounded end to your walking stick, it’s time to get out the paints.

5 This part can be as simple or as complicated as you want to make it. We’ve always kept it really simple and just dipped the rounded end into some good red acrylic paint.

6 Leave this to dry, which does take a little while. Perhaps it’s now time for dinner!

7 Finish it off by turning the little red ball on the end of the stick into a ladybird. All that’s needed is black paint – or even a black Sharpie – to give you a line straight down the middle, some small eyes and a load of black dots.

A ladybird looks really great on the end of the stick, turning the walking stick into something even more special, something cut, carved, painted and cared for by you and your child. As an after-school activity it’s perfect. It doesn’t take too long, it’s engrossing, and there’s something at the end of it all that will be used and treasured for a long while to come.

If the stick gets damaged, broken or lost it’s no problem. There’s barely any cost and it gives you the opportunity to do it all over again. I promise you your ladybird artwork will improve in time too!

We’ve given these simple hand-crafted products as presents to people in the past. Without fail, people love the design and the thought – and they use them! Whether you’re an adult or a child, if you receive one of these walking sticks you’ll be dead chuffed. Of course, it doesn’t have to be a ladybird on the end; it could be anything, although the simple ball shape is easy to carve out. Have a go at carving other things from the wood and adding carved designs down the stick too. The options are limitless, and as your carving skills are practised and developed your sticks will only get better. Before long, like at ours, there will be a whole collection of sticks of different lengths, thicknesses and questionable designs at your front door.